I’ve lived in the Bitterroot Valley since 1965. In all of that time I have subscribed to the Ravalli Republic. The paper has always had Opinion Pages where the people of the valley could express their views on any matter that was important to them. I expressed my views on a variety of subjects many times. People watched their local government and candidly put forth their opinions whenever they felt the local government was not performing according to Hoyle.
For the last two months the Ravalli Republic has not published an Opinion Page and the people of the valley have been denied the opportunity to express their opinions about how the County was being run or how any of the departments of the County were operating. They have also been denied the opportunity to express their views on how things might be improved.
You don’t have to be a wizard to realize that newspapers are having a hard time staying in business with all of the fast technology putting the news out to the people. When you see something in the paper you have already read it on your iPad or seen it on your phone at least a day before the paper puts the information out.
Opinion articles and letters to the editor are most often about current local happenings that might need some local attention. Not having an Opinion Page where the people’s views can be expressed borders on the denial of free speech.
I applaud the Bitterroot Star for providing the people with the space to express their opinions. I chastise the Ravalli Republic for taking the right to free speech away from their subscribers. I have informed the Ravalli Republic that I will not renew my subscription because of the lack of an Opinion Page and I suggest that all subscribers who miss the Opinion Pages do the same.
John W. Robinson
Corvallis